Château du Plessis Anjou

16th-century Le Plessis has been welcoming guests for years. Dinner, brought to a long table in a dining room grandly furnished with Roman Empire frescoes, might include duck with apricots or filet mignon with mushrooms then delicious cheeses and a crisp fruit tart. Excellent local wines can be bought by the bottle and you’ll enjoy the frescoes careering around the dining room walls.

Madame invites children to gather breakfast’s eggs and you are served fresh pastries and breads, homemade yogurt and fruit from the garden in season. Bedrooms are large and light with high ceilings, views over the grounds and en suite bathrooms. Relax in the big lounge by a warming fire on chilly days, admire llamas and Highland cattle outdoors, wander to the pool under ancient trees.

Children will love the playground and the trampoline, you may find a quiet spot to enjoy a glass of wine. There are many vineyards close by for tours and tastings.